Printed textile substrate and process for making

Abstract

This invention relates to a printed textile substrate, such as a floorcovering article, and a process for making a printed textile substrate. This invention provides the process and steps to print color patterns in-register with physical patterns, such as varying yarn pile heights, yarn luster, yarn color, and the like. This process provides many unique aesthetics on a textile substrate that cannot be created another way.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A textile substrate comprising a pattern, said pattern characterized by having at least one topographical area containing tufted yarns of a first height and of a second height, wherein said first height is greater than said second height, said pattern further characterized by having only one of the following:
 (a) Printing Ink A, B or C on at least a portion of the tufted yarns having a first height,   (b) Printing Ink A, B or C on at least a portion of the tufted yarns having a second height, or   (c) Printing Ink A, B or C on a least a portion of the tufted yarns having a first height and a second height,   said textile substrate designed for use on a horizontal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The textile substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the textile substrate is a floorcovering article. 
     
     
         3 . The textile substrate of  claim 2 , wherein the floorcovering article is selected from broadloom carpet, floor mats, and carpet tiles. 
     
     
         4 . The textile substrate of  claim 1 , wherein each of Printing Inks A, B and C contains a different composition. 
     
     
         5 . The textile substrate of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of Printing Inks A, B and C contain the same composition. 
     
     
         6 . The textile substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one topographical area containing tufted yarns of a first height and of a second height is detectable by hardware that transmits print instructions via software to a digital printing machine for application of at least one of Printing Ink A, B and C to the textile substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The textile substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the textile substrate contains printing ink in-register with the at least one topographical area containing tufted yarns of a first height and of a second height.